Tape and cement applying machine



Sept- 7, 1943- M. R. MEYER 2,328,571

TAPE AND CEMENT PPLYING MCHNE Filed Nov. 14, 1941 3 Sheets-shew?I l Sept. 7, 1943. M. R. MEYER 2,328,571

TAPE AND CEMENT APPLYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENVENTOR: /J//Li'fwf Mime ATTORNEY SePt- 7, 1943- v M. R. MEYER 2,328,571

TAPE AND CEMENT AYPLYING MACHINE Filed Nov, 14, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR# /Wf/PLE fi? MEYER ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 7, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TAPE AND CEMENT APPLYIN G MACHINE Merle It. Meyer, Waterbury, Conn., asslgnor to National Gypsum Company 13 Claims.

This invention relates to building constructions, and more particularly to an apparatus for applying a layer of plastic material and a flexible covering strip simultaneously upon a wall or other surface.

One object of this invention is to provide an apparatus ofthe above nature in which means are provided for extruding the plastic layer in any desired thickness from a container as the covering strip is pulled therefrom.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above nature in which the ilexible strip will pass partially around the plastic material in the container as it is pulled therethrough in such a manner that the underside of said strip will be coated with said material and caused to adhere firmly to the flat surface upon which it is applied.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the above nature which is especially adapted for applying cement and reinforcing tape simultaneously upon the joint between two wallboards.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above-nature which Will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, and very efiicent and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, there have been illustrated on the accompanying drawings several forms in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice.

Figure 1 represents a perspective View of the apparatus in operating position for applying cement and tape to a Wallboard joint.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hinged cover plate as viewed from the inside.

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 4 showing the tape roll supporting bracket-the `tape roll being omitted.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, taken substantially along the central plane of the apparatus and through the joint in the wallboard which it is desired to seal.

Figure 5 is a plan sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 4 with the cement omitted for the sake of clarity.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the lower portion of the device showing the gauge which indicates the amount of cement remaining in the container at any particular moment.

Figure 'l is a section taken along the line 'I-'I of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an attachment which may be used for maintaining the apparatus in alinement with the wallboard.

Figure 9 is a top view of the same from the inside of the container, as it appears when applied to the base of said container.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view of the forward portion of the apparatus, showing in full lines la, detachable corner tool attached thereto for operation on .an outside wall corner, and in dot and dash lines the position of said tool when used upon an inside" corner.

Figure l1 ls a fragmentary plan sectional view of an inside corner joint in which tape and cement is being applied by the corner tool shown in Figures 10 and 13.

Figure 12 is a sectional view similar to Figure ll of an outside corner joint.

Figure 13 is a perspective detail view of the corner tool shown by itself.

Figure 14 is a side elevati-on -of the apparatus as it appears When in use upon a ceiling joint and showing a vertical holder tool clamped aboutn Figure 16 is a perspective view of a Special v tool for use in smoothing the cement after it has been applied to a corner joint.

In previous practice employed for filling and reinforcing joints between adjacent Wallboards of a building construction, it was customary to rst manually fill the open channel with cement and then to apply ya flexible strip of suitable material over the outside of the cement by a sep- -arate step or operation. According to the present invention the cement and flexible strip are applied simultaneously to the joint, resulting in a material saving of time and producing a smoother surface, a result due to the absence of lumps of cement or dry spots under the tape which might produce air bubbles.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral I0 indicates a receptacle or container of substantially trapezoidal shape, the bottom wall II of which is about twice the length of the top wall I2, the latter having an inclined hinge section 12a bent outwardly therefrom, and also having a pair of downwardly inclined diverging flaps I2b and I2c which are adapted to fit Within the inclined rear and front walls I3 and I4, respectively, of said container as clearly shown in Figure 4. The inclination of the Wall I3 is preferably at an angle of about from the bottom wall. II, while the wall I4 is preferably inclined at an angle of about 50 therefrom, as shown.

The bottom portions of the inclined side walls I3 and I4 terminate a short distance above the bottom Wall II so as to provide a rear entrance slot I3a and 'a front exit slot I 4a, respectively, (see Figure 4). The inclined wall I4 is also provided adjacent its lower end with an elongated slot I4b (see Figure 1) for adjustably receiving a bolt Mc secured in place by a wing nut I4d, said bolt serving to clamp upon the upper end of a front tape guide 29, to be hereinafter more fully described.

The inclined hinge section |20; is provided with a pair of hinge ears I5,I5 which are adapted to embrace the ends of an elongated hinge pin I5a.

As clearly shown in Figure `5, there is mounted upon the top wall l2 a hollow handle consisting of a cylindrical portion I8, connected with a pair of abutting web portions I6, Il, and oppositely extending foot members Ila, IIb which form the means of attachment to the top Wall i2 as by rivets I'ie.

The container il] is also provided with a flat side wall I9, and the open front of said container is provided with a cover member having an inclined web 2i at the upper end thereof, said web 2l being provided with a central hinge ear 22 for embracing the hinge pin Iba and cooperating with the ears l5, I5 on the hinge section l2@ to pivotally mount the cover upon the container lli.

In order to embrace the rear wall i3, the front wall It and the bottom wall il, the cover inember to is provided with upstanding edge flanges 23, 24, and 24d, the 'latter having a tapered extension 2.5 which terminates in a rolled end catch member 26 which is adapted to resiliently press against the bottom wall l l and snap behind the side wall Id so as to securely latch the cover in closed position.

The tape 4d, which is preferably made of per- 1 forated paper, is guided into the rear of the receptacle through the entrance slot i3d by means of a rear adjustable tape guide 2l, which is secured to the wall I3 by a bolt lila, and a wing nut E'Ib. The rear tape guide 2li is provided with an exterior angular extension 23 which serves to en gage and smooth the tape as it passes into the container. The tape dit is of such width that it fits snugly between the side wall i3 and the cover 2d.

Provision is also made at the extrusion end oi the container oi a front tape guide il@ having a 'flat downwardly inclined extension Sil 'which serves to guide the tape and cement out of the forward end ci the container.

A removable clamping plate 3l is connected to the flat extension 3G of the front tape guide 29 by means of a bolt 32 located in the center of said guide. The clamp plate 3l is provided with a downturned rear end 3 Ia which engages said extension 3U and serves as a fulcrum for said clamp plate 3i.

The boltl 32 serves to press the clamp plate downwardly upon a cutter blade 33 having teeth 33a, whereby the tape remaining in the container may be conveniently severed from the tape already applied to the joint between the adjacent wallboard sections. The bolt 32 is preferably soldered rigidly to the extension 30 of the front tape guide, and is held in position by a wing nut 34 (see Figures 1-4).

Corner tool attachment When it is desired to employ the apparatus for sealing a corner joint between two wallboard sections, the clamp nut 34 will be unscrewed, permitting the cutter member 33 to be removed and a detachable reversible corner tool 3317 to be substituted in place thereof (see Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13) For the purpose of preventing the cutter blade 33 (or corner tool 33o) from shifting out of operating position, the flat extension 30 of the front tape guide 29 is provided with a pair of opstanding pins 35, 35 which are adapted to t in a corresponding pair of holes 36 inthe clamp plate 3i, in a pair of holes 31 in the cutter blade 33, and in a pair of holes 38 in the corner tool 33h.

To permit the tearing ofi of the perforated tape when the corner tool 33h is being used, provision is made of a toothed cutting edge 39 on the forward end of the corner tool against which the tape may be pulled to perform the tearing action.

The corner tool 33h is provided with a rear at portion d!) and a forward right-angular portion 4I (as clearly shown in Figures 10 to 13) in which the position of the corner tool for operating upon the inside corner wall is shown in Figure l1 and the position of said tool when operating on an outside corner is shown in Figure l2.

Figure fi clearly illustrates the location of the tape Ml as it appears when passing through the container it, around the rear tape guide 2l' and the mass of plastic cement lila which extends upwardly from the base in the container. The tape passes out of the container around the iront tape guide 23, as shown in Figure The tape is fed into the container l@ from a roll i5 which is provided with a hollow cardboard core 13, adapted to rit loosely upon a hollow metal core .ll, which is attached upon the end of a rigid tapered side holder plate de. In spaced relation to the rigid holder plate d3, there is provided a complementary swinging side holder plate i3 having an inwardly extending onset reduced base d@ which is adapted to swing about a horizontal bolt 5i passing through one end of the webs iti and lll of the handle i8, and said plate i3 is held in locked position by a wing nut 52 (as shown in Figures l and 2).

The rigid holder plate t8 is also provided with an inwardly odset rear extension 53, held in place by the bolt 5i and an additional rivet 51T; passing through the webs i3 and li.

The swinging side plate i9 of the roll spindle is provided with a short hollow integral plug 55 adapted to fit snugly within the metal core @l of the rigid holder plate li? for retaining the roll of tape iii in assembled position.

In order to hold the flaps {12E} and 42e of the top wall l2 tightly against the surrounding inclined side walls i3 and iii, provision is made oi a pair of rivets 56, 56 joining the flap [12b to the wall i3, and a pair of rivets El, 5l joining the fiap i2c to the wall I4.

Provision is also made of a ilexible metal guide plate Si! (see Figure 4) secured to one end of the inclined side wall I4 by means of the rivets El. 5l, which guide plate 6!) serves to direct the for ward end of the tape before it reaches the front tape guide 29 and prevent entanglement with the head of the bolt Mc.

Telltale indicator In order to indicate the amount of cement remaining in the container Without the necessity of opening the container, provision is made of a telltale indicator comprising a bottom horizontal pivot rod Bl'passing through the side wall I! of the container and having a rectangular flap 92 secured rigidly thereto, which flap 62 tits loosely within the interior of the container adjacent the side wall I9 and the cover member 2|) thereof.

The "telltale indicator is also provided with an exterior pointer 63 integral with the pivot rod BI extending upwardly parallel to the side Wall I9. The pointer 63 is adapted to move over a curved scale 64 having suitable indicia marked thereon, such as Empty, 1/4, "1%3 and Full, as indicated in Figure 6. A spring 64a is provided to urge the flap 62 and pointer 63 towards the Full indicia on the scale 84 and may be mounted upon the pivot rod 6l between the pointer 63 and the side wall I9, one leg 64b being hooked about the end Wall I3 and the other leg 64o hooked about the pointer 63. The spring 64a should be relatively weak but yet have sufficient strength to prevent the flap 82 from sinking into the cement when the apparatus is laid with its base I I upon a horizontal surface.

Ceiling implement When it is desired to use the present invention for applying cement and tape to the joint between two wallboards located upon a ceiling of a room, where a full length scaffolding is not available, the ceiling holder 65 shown in Figures 14 and l5 may be employed.

The holder 65 comprises an elongated handle rod 65a, preferably of wood, which is provided adjacent its upper end with a slot 66 through which are passed a pair of rivets 67, 6l for clamping the sides of the split section of said handle rod upon a pair of depending plates 68 and 69 of a container clamping member l0.

The clamp plates 68 and 69 are provided wit a pair of fiat outwardly offset sections 1I and 12 which are adjustably held together by means of a pair of bolts I3 and 'I4 having wing nuts 15 and 16 secured thereon. Above the flat offset sections 'lI and 12, the clamp plates have a pair of outwardly convex sections 11 and 18 shaped to t the horizontal cylindrical handle I8 of the cement container I0, and said curved sections 1l and I8 are provided with a pair of inwardly offset ilat clips 19 'and 80 extending upwardly therefrom and having outwardly curved extremities BI and 82 which serve to facilitate-the attachment of the ceiling implement to the container IU. This ceiling implement permits the operator to step down from the short scaffolding and move to a new position without removing the container from engagement with the tape already applied to the ceiling joint.

Additional corner tool Figure 16 discloses an additional corner tool which may be employed for smoothing out the sealed joints formed at the outside and inside corners of the wall of a room after the cement and tape have been applied to said joints by the apparatus described in Figures 1 to 15.

This corner tool includes a pair of flat side members 83 and 84 forming an angle of 90 and joined together by a corner edge 85 extending the full length of said corner tool. The side members 83 and 84 are reduced in width at their rear portions for about 1/3 the length of the corner tool, forming small rear inclined sections 86 and 81, said reduced rear sections being bent inwardly at their upper portions to inclose a rear triangular handle section of said tool by cover portions 88 and 89. In use, the closed handle secinside or outside corner joint as desired.

-lll

Center guiding attachment In the form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9, a center guiding attachment 9D is shown which is made by bending from a strip of sheet metal, and consists of a rectangular inner flat plate 9i adapted to lie against the inside surface of the bottom wall II of the container. The attachment 90 also has a shorter outside section 92 joined to the section 9i at its edge 93-said outside section having a small outturned V-shaped n 94 shorter in length than the Width of the sections 9I and 92, and being shaped to fit in the joint J between the abutting sections of a pair of wallboards.

The V-shaped guide iln94 is of such size and so located that when in place upon the bottom wall I I of the container I0, it will maintain the center of the front tape guide 29 in accurate alinement with the joint between the abutting wallboard panels, thus facilitating the application of the tape 44 over the joint in proper centralized position.

Operation In the operation of applying tape and cement simultaneously to the joint J between a pair of Wallboards, a roll of tape 44 or other flexible strip will first be placed upon the spool spindle 4l and latched in place by swinging the side plate holder 49 so as to bring the short plug 55 into alinement with the hollow core 4l of the rigid portion of the spool spindle. The plug will then be inserted in the core and the parts locked in assembled position by screwing up the wing nut 52 upon the bolt 5I. The tape 44 will then be passed around the rear tape guide 21, inserted in the container through the rear slot I 3a passed over the flap 62, and pulled out of the container around the flexible guide 60 and the front. tape guide 29 through the exit slot Ida. formed in the tape within the container, (as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4) for receiving a previously strained air-drying cement-and-water mixture which may be of any desired suitable extrudable composition. The container below the tape will then be filled with the plastic cement mixture, and the tape pulled tightly against said cement so that when the tape is manually drawn out of the nozzle around the front tape guide 29, a layer of cement about e of an inch in thickness will adhere to the undersurface of the tape and will be extruded through the exit slot I4a with said tape 44. The full line position of the tape 44 indicates its appearance when about onehal of the cement has been extruded from the container.

It will be understood that the operation of pulling the tape out of the container will provide the force necessary to keep the tape in tight engagement with the cement remaining in the container and will eXtrude the necessary amount of cement upon the under surface of the tape as the container is drawn along the entire length of the joint. The end of the tape already applied to the wall will then be severed from the tape remaining in the container by swinging the container at an angle and twisting it to cause the cutting edge 33 to tear off the tape at the desired point.

The next operation is to press the tape down into the soft cement in the sealed joint by a suit- A loop will thus beable tool, such as a trowcl or broad knife-the excess cement either being removed, or spread back over the surface of the tape and feathered out at its edges to blend with the adjacent portions of the wallboards. The cement and tape will then be allowed lto dry about Za hours, after which it will be ready for applying a subsequent touching-up or nnishing outer coat of cement, if necessary. The joint may then be sanded down, smoothed and made flush with the face of the wailboard panels preparatory to painting or papering.

When it is desired to apply the tape and cement to a corner, the corner spreader tool shown in Figures 1G to i3 will be placed position on the end of the nozzle of the container in place or the cutter blade 33h. As the apparatus is drawn along the edge of the corner, the operator will manually pull out the tape and extrude the cement layer exactly as in the iirst form of the invention. it will be understood, of course, that the process may be carried out with the present apparatus Without using the corner 'tool attachment, in which case the tape will be manually bent at right angles around an outside or within an inside corner by hand or trowel, and the nnal smoothing down done by means of the spreader corner tool shot/n in Figure 16.

lt is to be understood in this application wherever parts are described and shown as connected by rivets, that bolts and nuts or spotwelding may be substituted within the spirit and scope of 'the invention.

While there have been disclosed in this specincation several forms in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that these forms are shown for the purpose of yillustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specic disclosures, but may be modined and embodied in various other forms Without departing from its spirit. En short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming Within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fullyv described the invention, What is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent is:

1. ln an apparatus for sealing a joint between two Wallboards, a closed container having a flat extruding nozzle, means for mounting a roll of flexible tape rotatably on said container, means for guiding tape so mounted into said container and out of said nozzle, said container being adapted to receive a mass of pasty cement, the tape in said container forming a loop adapted to embrace such cement, the force of manually pulling said tape out of said nozzle serving to keep said tape in tight contact With the cement remaining in said container, and causing the necessary amount of cement to be extruded upon the undersurface of said tape as the apparatus is drawn along the entire length of said joint.

2. The apparatus specied in claim 1 in Which the means for guiding said tape into said container is adjustable.

3. The apparatus specied in claim 1 in which the discharge opening of said nozzle is adjustable.

4. The apparatus specified in claim 1 in which said container is trapezoidal in shape for embracing the loop'of tape and cement therein.

5. The apparatus specified in claim i in which a movable cover is provided for one side of said container to permit the supply of cement to be replenished.'

6. In an apparatus for sealing a joint in a 'wall with a flexible tape coated with cement, a con tainer for pasty cement having a iat side and a iat extruding nozzle, a spool for holding a roll of said tape secured to the exterior of said container, means to guide said tape from said spool into said container, means guide said tape out of said nozzle, said `container being adapted to receive a mass of extrudable pasty cement to be held against said flat side by a loop of said tape passing around one side of said cement mass, the force exerted in pulling said tape out of said nozzle serving to maintain said cement in tight contact with the undersurace of said tape to coat it and cause the necessary amount of cement for filling said joint and attaching said tape to the Wall to be extruded from said nozzle as the apparatus is drawn along said joint.

7. The apparatus specified in claim 6 in which said container is provided with a handle for con-s venience in manipulation.

8. The apparatus specified in claim 6 in which a cutting blade is provided on the end of said flat nozzle ior use in severing the end oi the tape already applied to the joint from the re mainder of the tape.

9. The apparatus specified in claim 6 in which a front tape guide extends outwardly through said nozzle, a clamping plate is located on the outer surface of the tape guide, and bolt and nut means are provided for pressing said clamping plate upon said guide.

l0. In an apparatus for concealing an open joint in a Wall, a container for an extrudable mass of cement having a fiat extruding nozzle adapted to be drawn along said joint, means for mounting a roll of flexible material on one side of said container, material from a roll so mounted being guided into said container around one side of said mass of cement and out of said nozzle, the force exerted inpulling said material out of said nozzle ycausing the necessary amount of cement to .be extruded in contact with the undersuriace of said material for lling said joint and coating the surface of the wall adjacent thereto.

1l The invention set forth in claim l0 in which a pivoted telltale plate is provided in said container, said plate being spring-pressed upwardly against the undersuriace of said tape Within the container and serving to indicate the amount of cement remaining in said container.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 in which a resilient guide plate is provided at the extrud ing end of said container to hold the tape out of contact Within the adjacent wall thereof.

13. 1n an apparatus for applying a layer of cement and covering tape simultaneously to an open Wall joint, a container for said cement, means for drawing tape through said container, a flat nozzle on said container for extruding cement in contact with said tape by the force exerted in pulling said tape, and a center guiding means secured to said container in alinement with the center of said nozzle to centralize said tape with respect to said joint.

MERLE R. MEYER. 

